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Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Hi everyone! So remember the rag rug tutorial I did a couple summers ago? I had such an amazing and overwhelming response to that project - I was really very humbled and honored. (People actually think I know what I'm doing!! Shhhh - don't tell anyone I'm just an excellent faker.) ;)

I had so many people send me the sweetest messages and stories about their rugs. Some people had never crocheted in their lives - but wanted to start with this project. How cool is that?! I mean - it is super easy and fun so I can understand why this is a great starter project - but again, I was so honored to be a part of that. :)

So today's post is dedicated to all those lovely crafty chicas who took the time to come by and ask a question...share a picture...start a dialogue on this project. I really appreciate YOU! And I'd like to share with all my bloggie friends some of the beautiful creations that were shared with me. Enjoy!

This pretty "watermelony" rug says "Meemaw" in the middle - how cool !

A rectangle version! Neato!

Such even, tight stitches. I bet this one turned out awesome!

The soft neutrals and blues in this one give me a happy "beach house" vibe.

Funkadelic!! This one is right up my alley. Love all the color!

Haha! A gal after my own heart. I know how challenging crafting can be when you have such great "helpers" all the time!

This chicky had some excellent reusing ideas to get this perfect color pallet for her living room.

Loving this big fat stitches!! Ooooh the texture!!!

This sweet little rug was made for a sweet little little. ;) So cute!

It's hard to pick a favorite! Nor do I think I could. Or want to for that matter! They are all so different - with so many lovely textures and colors. Everyone did such an amazing job - a lot of them look better than my first run. No joke! Haha! Ahhh, my young grasshoppers. You have excelled beyond your teachings and are wiser than your teacher. Lol! <3 Thanks so much to everyone who contributed to this post. If you have a website or blog you'd like to link to - feel free to leave it in the comments - or contact me and I'll put it directly in this post with your rug. :) Have an awesome, crafty day everyone!!

Sunday, February 26, 2012

This owl is destined for great things. When he's all done, he'll be heading off to a Georgia university to live the scholarly life. I can't wait to see him finished...I'm plannin a little something extra for this guy. ;)

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Aaaahhhhh....my (hopefully still) loyal bloggie readers. I'm sorry I've been absent from this space lately. I feel like such a bum for not keeping up with my posts regularly. The truth is, I've just been having a hard time balancing the different facets of my life lately.

It's because of many things really. But mostly stemming from the fact that, since the new year, I've decided once and for all, that I will take back my life and start living a healthier lifestyle. I was tired of looking in the mirror and feeling less than satisfied with myself. I felt tired a lot. Sore and stiff in my muscles all the time. My clothes (even my "fat pants" - ladies, you know what I'm talking about) didn't fit well anymore. I generally would eat til I felt overly full and even sick. I had a bad "clean your plate" mentality about every meal. I felt run down. And yes - I wanted to look good in a bikini again, dammit. I decided it was enough.

Reasons...

At first, even the thought of getting back in shape was so overwhelming. I felt I knew nothing. And it had been years - um...about nine or so? - since I was last on a regular fitness program. I didn't know what a portion was. I didn't know what an ounce of meat looked like, or how many chips was in an actual serving. I knew very little about the actual nutritional content of the food I was fueling my body with and what kind of nutrients a body really needs on a daily basis. It was all very foreign and quite overwhelming.

If not now - when?

But like I said, enough was enough. This is my life. My body. If I don't feel good, or like how I look - who's responsibility is that? If I don't take care of me, who will? So I just went for it. I jumped in with both feet. Well, my heart and mind jumped in. In reality, and physically - I took baby steps. And then some more. Then a few bigger steps...and every day I take another. And though I'm not "leaps and bounds" yet - my steps are all in the right direction.

In going through all this - trying these new things, feeling out this new flow in my life, adjusting priorities and learning more about myself and what I need physically and mentally - I've been struggling to find a balance between these new components and other things that are important to me as well.

Meaning - my crafting has taken a little bit of a back burner lately. Listing things on Etsy - back burner. Personal art and exploration of new creative ideas - back burner. Blogging - back burner. This is not, in any way, something I want to be permanent. Not at all. But it is something I thought would fall back into place fairly easily once I got into this new groove of mine. Not so much.

I'm realizing that lifestyle changes kind of force entire lifestyle changes. I used to come home from work (Mon - Fri, 9 to 5-er - that's me), eat whatever was easy, take care of some house stuff, relax, spend some time in the craftroom or do whatever else tickled my fancy. Now - I leave work, go shopping (b/c healthy food does not generally come from a box - which requires more frequent grocery trips) come home, work out, shower, cook a healthy meal for me and Jon, clean up and by this time it's usually around at least 8:00 pm. And I am a night owl by nature - but working a day job and having these new priorities when I get home - it kind of works against that. I have to get my buns in bed by a reasonable hour or I will be wearing some serious cranky pants the next day. So that really leaves only a couple solid hours for housework and personal hobbies.

*sigh*

So, it's been a little bit of a struggle lately to find a new balance. I will not give up on taking care of myself. I feel so. much. better. With each workout I complete, I notice I can do more reps, or kick higher, or whatever - I'm getting stronger. That's such an amazing feeling. I have more energy. I feel leaner - more flexy. I feel good. I will not let that go.

But it is also very important to me to follow my creative dreams as well. I have big plans for my Etsy shop. I have so many great ideas for new product lines. I have a pile of awesome vintage stuff that's waiting to be photographed, etc. There are numerous personal projects I'd like to complete (my craft room sewing table for one!). I'd like to paint again. Get back to drawing. I have dreams, my lovelies, big dreams. And lots of them. I'm just havin a bit of a hard time getting everything to fall into its place around here.

But I'll get there.

So if you're wondering where I've been - I hope you understand. I'm trying. And I'll be back here on a more regular basis soon. But I hope, until then, you'll bear with me.<3

Have you ever gone through anything like this? Any personal struggles where the things that were most important in your life ended up competing against one another for the limited hours in your day - leaving you feel a little lost and unsure? Please comment - I'd love to hear what you have to say. Even you lurkers. ;) Introduce yourself and put your two cents in. How often do we get a chance to share completely solicited advice? Haha!

Also, I think in the future, instead of being so concerned about trying to make all the things I post here be business and crafty-related, or tutorials, or recipes, etc., I'd like for this to be a place I share more of myself. And also a place where we can help each other and be a space for comfort and support. The struggles. The accomplishments. Maybe get a bit more personal (I think this may be the most personal post I've ever done, actually. Eek!). After all - it is Flight of the Pook - and all of these things are a part of my "flight" - right?

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Ohmigoooodness! We have a winner, folks! Are you excited? I'm excited. Do you wanna know who it is? You do? Well, I'll tell ya. The winner is.......are you ready?........what? Shut up and tell you already? Ha! Okay, okay. The winner is:

Zoe Hunter Lee!

What a cute name, by the way. <3 Zoe was comment # 24 as chosen by the random number generator at Random.org. Hooraaayyyyy!! I'll be contacting you soon via email to get your mailing info, etc.

A very sincere thank you to everyone who entered. The only thing I don't like about giveaways, is that I can't give something to everyone who entered. :( But I do appreciate all the support and love from everyone who came by during the giveaway!

And if you're new here - welcome! and I hope you're glad you came anyway. :) Thanks again, everyone! And watch the shop - more Bitsy Bears will be coming soon!

Amy Morby over at A is for Ampersand is on a self-love crusade this month. And I like it. <3 And I wanted to share her thoughts as well as my own on the subject.

I would say my perception-of-self is pretty good these days. But it hasn't always been. And I don't think there is a woman out there who can't relate to the inner struggle of maintaining a positive self-image. Some days are harder than others. But mostly, lately, I'd say I'm a happy camper. How 'bout you?

I think it's really important to support one another and strengthen those we know who might need it - we owe it to ourselves and to others to be positive and loving and share our strength when we can if for no other reason than maybe the universe will send that strength back to us someday when we need it. And for the best reason - it just feels good. And it's nice to be nice. :)

It's especially hard to feel happy and proud of oneself when the world is constantly bombarding us with images and messages that say "you're not good enough unless you're doing this stuff...or looking like this".

Bullhucky.

You're beautiful. You're wonderful. You're special. Not in a "more special than someone else" kinda way - that's bullhucky too. But in a "be glad and proud and thankful for YOU" kinda way because no one else is you - you are. What's that saying? Be yourself - everyone else is already taken. True story.

Well you get the message. And I mean it. Much love to all my lady readers!! (And even the boys, if they're reading. :) )

If you'd like to join Amy's crusade and sign her "Declaration of Self-Hate Independence" - head over HERE.

About Me

Hi there! I'm Cassandra. I craft. I create. I cook and garden and read and try to leave tiny footprints (environmentally speaking). I love learning more all the time and now I can share with you my journeys through it all. (I love all messages and emails! So don't be shy :) PooknflipProductions[at]gmail[dot]com)